Apparatus for taping cartons

Abstract

Apparatus for applying tape to a forwardly traveling carton includes a first projecting tape applicator which lies in the path of carton travel. As the carton strikes the first applicator, tape is applied to the carton front panel, the traveling carton depressing the applicator to allow it to apply and wipe tape around the corner formed by the front panel and onto a horizontal panel. A push finger carried on the tape applicator engages for a time with a tape cutter. On engagement of the push finger with a cam near completion of unit depression travel, the finger disengages the cutter and releases it to sever a tape length from the tape supply. A roller in the depressed applicator unit wipes the severed tape length along the horizontal panel for the length that the tape extends along the panel. A second tape applicator unit which moves from projecting to depressed position in tandem with the first unit is located downstream of the first applicator. As the traveling carton moves beyond the first applicator, the depression constraint releases so that the second unit tends to project, and tape from a second supply roll is applied to the carton horizontal panel a distance spaced from where the first tape length ends. This last applied tape is applied around the corner formed by the carton's horizontal and rear panels. A second cutter severs this second tape length from its supply with roller means employed to wipe tape against the carton horizontal and rear panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for applying sealing tape to front and rear ends of a forwardly traveling rectangular carton and in two respective courses the first of which runs in part on the carton front vertical panel and around in part onto a carton horizontal panel and the second of which runs in part on said horizontal panel and around in part onto the carton rear vertical panel, said apparatus comprising a first movably mounted tape applicator normally biased into projecting position in the path of carton forward travel to present tape from a first stock thereof in confrontation to the carton front panel, said tape applicator including an arm having a first pressing member thereon for pressing tape against the carton front panel, the advancing carton countering a bias on said tape applicator and retracting same as it advances and causing the tape to be wiped against said front panel,   first movably mounted cutter means including bias means tending to move said cutter means in a tape cutting direction, said tape applicator arm carrying a push finger which engages during at least a portion of the retraction movement of said applicator arm with said first cutter means for moving same in a direction opposite to said cutting direction,   cam means disposed for engagement thereof by said push finger during the terminal portion of applicator arm retraction for causing release of said push finger from engagement with said first cutter means whereby said cutter means moves in cutting direction to sever a length of tape from said first tape stock,   an additional pressing member carried on said tape applicator arm and disposed when said arm is retracted, in tape wiping relationship to the carton horizontal panel to press tape thereagainst,   a second movably mounted tape applicator disposed downstream of the first and normally biased into projecting position in the path of carton forward travel but connected to said first tape applicator to retract in tandem therewith, said second tape applicator when retracted presenting tape from a second stock thereof in alongside spaced confrontation to said horizontal panel, said second tape applicator including an associated movably mounted second cutter means normally biased to extend into the carton travel path in a tape cutting direction but being held retracted in opposition to said bias as the carton travels holdingly against said associated second cutter means,   forward travel of the carton beyond the retracted first tape applicator releasing said first tape applicator from retracted constraint so same is caused to tend to return to projecting position, return movement of the unconstrained first tape applicator being accompanied by said second tape applicator tending to move to projecting position and thereby pressing the tape from said second stock against said horizontal panel, passage of the forwardly traveling carton beyond said second cutter means releasing same whereby the bias acting thereon moves it in a cutting direction to sever a length of tape from said second tape stock, and   a tape wiping member downstream of said second tape applicator and tandemly operable therewith to project extendingly from a retracted position thereof to wipe the length of severed tape from the second tape stock against the carton rear vertical panel.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said first tape applicator arm is an elongated member pivoted at one end thereof for rotatable movement about a fixed axis, the first pressing member being carried on said arm spaced at a distance from the other end of said arm, said additional pressing member being carried on said first tape applicator arm adjacent the said other end thereof, said push finger being carried on said arm intermediate said first and said additional pressing members. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said push finger is mounted on said first tape applicator arm for pivoting movement relative thereto and about an axis parallel to said fixed axis, said push finger having a shoulder portion for engaging a companion surface on said movably mounted first cutter means during retraction movement of said applicator arm and an elongate follower portion extending in angled relation to the disposition of said shoulder portion, said cam means being a fixed member, said push finger follower portion being engageable with said cam means during the retraction movement of said applicator arm to cause pivoting movement of said push finger thereby to cause release of said shoulder portion from engagement with said first cutter means after the last-mentioned means has been moved a predetermined distance in the direction opposite to its cutting direction movement. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said cam means is an eccentric member and includes means for adjustably rotating said eccentric about an axis parallel to said fixed axis to position said cam means to present a minimum to maximum eccentricity engagement surface to the push finger follower section engaging therewith for correspondingly effecting more rapid or less rapid push finger rotation with consequent earlier or later release of engagement of said shoulder portion with said first cutter means. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising stop means carried on said first applicator arm and operative to limit the extent to which said push finger can pivot relative to said first applicator arm. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said stop means comprises a pin fixed to said applicator arm and captured in an enlarged opening in said push finger. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said cam means has a hexagonally shaped cross-section. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said first movably mounted cutter means companion surface engageable with said push finger shoulder section is complementally configured with such push finger shoulder section. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the first pressing member and the said additional pressing member are roller members fixed rotatably to said first applicator arm. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the said other end of said first tape applicator arm is embodied as an independent structure adjustable longitudinally of the length of said first tape applicator arm for lengthening and shortening the overall length of said first tape applicator arm, there being means associated with said independent structure for fixedly locking same to said remainder length. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which both said independent structure and said remainder length have longitudinally directed slots therein, the locking means being received in such slots. 
     
     
       12. In apparatus in which a movable tape applying arm member for applying tape from a stock thereof to a forwardly traveling carton is retracted from a projecting position in the carton travel line to a position out of the carton line by contact of the carton therewith, and including a tape cutter normally biased to project into said carton line, complementally engageable latching means carried on said arm member and said tape cutter, said latching means being engaged by retractive movement of said arm member to effect retractive movement of said tape cutter away from said box line in opposition to a bias thereon,   latch release means in the path of retractive movement of said arm member and disposed a predetermined distance from said box line,   power operated means connected with said arm member for stroking said arm member a further distance beyond that which is caused by travel of the carton in contact therewith and sufficient to cause engagement of the latch release means with said latching means to unlatch said latching means, and   means for sensing travel of the carton downstream a distance from first contact thereof with said arm member, said sensing means triggering operation of said power operated means to retract said arm member said further distance whereby the unlatched tape cutter moves in normally biased direction to sever the tape from the stock thereof.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said latching means comprises an elongated latch member pivoted at one end to said arm member and being engaged by a bias member urging said latch member in a first direction, a complemental means on said tape cutter being an abutment thereon, said latch release means comprising a fixed stop member, said latch member engaging said stop member during the stroking of said arm member said further distance to urge said latch member in a second opposite direction and disengage it from said tape cutter abutment. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said power operated means is a fluid operated cylinder unit. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising second sensing means disposed at a downstream location from said first-mentioned sensing means to sense arrival of the carton at said location and therewith terminate operation of said power operated means whereby said arm member can extend in a direction toward the box line.